"I feel good about all our options back there," Durkin said Thursday. "It's a matter of how we're going to sort it out. But all those guys have the ability to play. You look at this history of here. We've played true freshman on the back end about every year.

In 2011, Fort Lauderdale's Marcus Roberson started 10 games and DeLand's De'Ante Saunders nine games as a first-year defensive backs. Safety Matt Elam played a significant role as a freshman in 2010, when Durkin was a defensive assistant on Urban Meyer's staff.

This season the Gators have five freshmen cornerbacks vying for playing time — Fort Lauderdale's Quincy Wilson, Immokalee's J.C. Jackson, Cross City's Duke Dawson, Tampa's Deiondre Porter and Jalen Tabor of Washington D.C.

Tabor, the highest-rated recruit of the group, had his best practice of preseason camp Thursday, highlighted by a diving, juggling interception off Treon Harris and a hard hit of Demarcus Robinson along the sideline.

On Wednesday, Tabor, Wilson and Jackson made interceptions on three of four plays during one-on-one passing drills, where quarterbacks and receivers have a decided advantage.

Dawson has been out this week with a shoulder injury, but remains in the mix, Durkin said.

In the next two weeks, the Gators hope to see one or two of the young corners emerge as an option to join Hargreaves and push junior Brian Poole for playing time.

"Competition makes everyone better, and they're battling really good," Durkin said. "They've all had days where you could say this guy is better than the other."

• FOWLER THRIVING: Despite sitting out some of Thursday's practice with a minor arm injury, Dante Fowler Jr. continues to play with a level of consistency coaches hoped to see from the junior defensive end.

"Noticeably different." Durkin said."He understands, we've challenged him with that, to be a consistent guy there and he's really done that to this point."

Fowler had his moments in 2013. Against Tennessee, he forced two fumbles, recovering one, and had three tackles for loss.

But when defensive tackle Dominique Easley tore his ACL the following week during practice, Fowler became the focal point of offensive lines. He totaled one tackle for loss during losses to LSU, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina and FSU.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Fowler is leaner, meaner and more mature this summer.

"I've been proud of Dante about the way he's practiced," Durkin said. "He's been very consistent with his effort and how hard he's going, and it's showing."

• DURKIN'S TAKE: Durkin shared his thoughts a one a few other Gators.

Sophomore safety Keanu Neal': "He plays at a high level at all times. He's a very physical guy, he can cover, and he plays at game speed."

First-year defensive lineman Gerald Willis: "He'll play and help us. Gerald's got to keep learning the defense and being in the right spot."

New nickel back Marcus Maye, a former safety: "That guy's got to be able to blitz, cover, man cover, zone cover, do all of things. Marcus kind of has a feel for it."